(Reuters) – The U.S. government will award a total of $196 million in grants to repair and replace aging pipelines in 20 states, the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration announced on Tuesday.
The grants, funded by President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, will support 60 modernization projects.
This round of funding will focus on replacing old, leak-prone pipes that pose safety risks, drive up energy costs and contribute to environmental damage.
“Aging, leak-prone natural gas pipelines can be dangerous, driving up energy costs for families and harming the environment. That’s why the Biden-Harris administration is supporting funding to replace aging pipelines,” US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.
“We are making significant progress in our efforts to reduce pollution – including super pollutants like methane – while creating thousands of good union jobs and lowering energy costs for Americans,” said Ali Zaidi, White House National Climate Advisor.
